April 3 - Fifth Sunday in Lent
(Is 43:16-21; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8:1-11)
The setting of this Gospel is the Jerusalem temple during the Jewish feast of Tabernacles (or Booths), a harvest feast occurring in September which recalled God’s providence to Israel during their forty years of wandering in the desert. Jesus’ opponents bring before him a woman who they say has been caught in the act of adultery. They demand a judgment from him, not because they respect his opinion, but as a device to trap him. If he tells them to stone her, he would be liable to Roman law which reserved the death penalty to itself (see John 18:31). If he orders them to let her go, he will be seen as condoning sin and going against Moses (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:23-24). Jesus chooses neither option, instead skillfully turning the question back on his accusers while at the same time demonstrating both mercy and justice. God never withholds his grace from us. Through the gift and grace of the Holy Spirit we can be changed and made new in Christ. He can set us free from our unruly desires and passions. Jesus never lost an opportunity to bring freedom to those oppressed by sin and guilt. His frequent association with sinners, however, upset the sensibilities of the religious leaders. This incident tells us a great deal about Jesus’ attitude to the sinner. Jesus both expresses mercy and he strongly exhorts the adulterous to not sin again. The scribes wished to condemn, Jesus wished to forgive and to restore the sinner to health. His challenge involved a choice –either go back to your former way of sin and death or to reach out to the new way of life and happiness with him. Jesus gave her pardon and a new start on life. God’s grace enables us to confront our sin for what it is –unfaithfulness to God, and to turn back to God with a repentant heart and a thankful spirit for God’s mercy and forgiveness.